New Year resolution

Many of us who enter New Year make auspicious and ambitious resolutions. Be it weight management, healthy diet, physical exercise, improving professional skills, leaving smoking, drinking or drugs, working on honing inter-personal relationship, improving work ethics, inculcating positive outlook or gaining spirituality -- all are worthwhile goals. However most of these resolutions, albeit well-intentioned and motivated, start fizzling out after some time. In the humdrum of daily existence and existential issues of daily life they are consigned to backwaters --only to be picked up again next year.
Habits are strange creatures: sometimes inherited or acquired, they become hardwired, tenacious and difficult to break. If complacency sets in they tend to reassert with vengeance. The brain chemistry forged by family genes, past experiences, ingrained habits, peer pressures, simple ignorance or lack of awareness adds to relapse in old familiar grooves. Most of human beings by nature like to take short cuts, avoid coming out of comfort zones and prefer trudging along familiar, well- trodden pathways.
Philosophically, time is a cultural continuum and societal benchmarks such as birthdays, anniversaries or New Year, cultural or religious festivals, are significant markers and reminders of major life events. But if spent as rituals and holiday events they come and breeze past like whiff of the wind and easily forgotten. One such healthy resolution which could be adopted to get more focused, peaceful and balanced is the need for acquiring the habit of mindfulness.
The concept of mindfulness originated from ancient times and is enshrined in all religious practices: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. In the 1980s however it mutated into mindfulness as a movement and secularized by some scientist like mostly Dr Kabat- Zinn, a molecular scientist, who was its founder and ardent advocate. He was joined by many others who claim the ancient and timeless wisdom of meditation and was joined by scholars, practitioners and scientists.
Sometimes derided for being unscientific, encouraging narcissism and isolation or a mere passing fad, it has nonetheless managed to make headway and come to stay: now corporate businesses, schools colleges universities, counseling centres, sports, army installations and many other professions have realized its medical benefits and have become strong advocates. No wonder mindful training centres are sprouting up in many counties and scientific studies on neurobiology and meditation are taking place.
Why mindfulness meditation is becoming popular? Is it due to fast paced and frenzied modernization and existential pressures of life? Or high and unmet expectations and unlimited desires or attachments, advent of mechanization and instant gratification; or new digital devices have robbed human beings of intimate interactions, or for loss in spiritual and transcendental values?
Mostly in Westernized world this malaise is spreading fast, though in developing countries the copycat syndrome is catching up too. Where people are out of touch with their inner self and nature and cultural values the need becomes more. Wrenching societal changes are displacing population from traditional centers to depersonalized urban areas, affecting interpersonal relations, family ties, diminishing thereby equanimity and gratitude.
Educational systems are also to be blamed: concentrating on three Rs with no input of philosophy, ethics and emotional ballast. Empathy and sympathy are dying out in the new generation. As if this was not enough the communication revolution has brought the mayhem of conflicts, violence, terrorism, wars, social ills and threat of looming nuclear war on TV screens in homes.
The US, as a superpower, is abdicating its responsibilities as a moral beacon. President Trump's policies and pronouncements are making the world unsafe. China is now holding promise whereas the American dream is souring slowly, although many young men and women would still like to study and work in America.
Mindfulness has come to have many benefits: concentration, contemplation, emotional balance, equanimity, empathy and compassion. The central idea of focusing on the 'here and now,' as psychologists say, is a preventive against an overwrought and racing mind: it is estimated that human mind flits from moment to moment 7,500 times in a single day, from past to present that include past regrets, conflicts, disappointments frustrations and future plans and fantasies.
When the mind is overly and obsessively occupied, say the experts, it cannot retain its balance, poise and concentration affecting its neural circuitry and chemical balance. No wonder anxiety, depressions and related ailments are rife in societies especially beset by violence, conflicts and fast paced life.
'Fight or flight' response is inherited through our ancestors. Although life is different now yet this genetic trait remains embedded in the unconscious sometimes equated with 'reptilian fear.'
Attention spans have enormously diminished: we often see students in classes flipping endlessly their mobiles: a gold fish attention span takes 9 second while humans in 2015 took 8.2 seconds. This is called as 'monkey mind' which jumps from moment to moment with no aim and productivity.
As a teacher in universities, I find young people suffering from attention spans: confused, impulsive, dismissive, lacking respect, compassion and also narcissistic. Knowledge is not the be all and end all unless it instills wisdom: they are two different things.
Mindfulness cannot be learnt by merely narrating its virtues and lecture. One has to discipline oneself and do some regular exercises to strengthen mental muscles by drills and tame the troubled 'monkey mind.' Multi-tasking, overdoing things in a compulsive and obsessive manner, living under pressurized climate has become a norm which takes away the quality, meaning and joy of life.
The medical benefits of mindfulness are multiple: more oxygen and greater release of neurotransmitters to the brain which lead to more productivity, concentration, empathy, compassion and better quality of life. It is much different from the harried, hurried and harassed style of living which is so common today.
After all, true happiness is not in amassing riches, fancy motor cars, big mansions, or elevation in rank and status or even getting some award. It resides in one's soul that is at peace with oneself and nature. One can have limited means but being rich in soul as sages, philosophers and savants do so.
One agrees that the world is grown complex: but likewise human knowledge has also grown to deal with mental pressures. Critics charge that mindfulness is hocus pocus, unrealistic, makes one egocentric, secluded and unsocial. Also, they describe it as a Western inspired concept and not relevant in eastern societies.
It is plainly wrong: it is intrinsically an eastern philosophy and lies within every religious tradition; after all, all major religions took birth and flourished in the east. The practice can be customized to one's own traditions and value systems.
No wonder it is now employed in the corporate world, offices, hospitals, schools and universities, sports and even military for mental wellbeing and better focus and productivity. In hospitals, post-operation and serious diseases can alleviate crushing pain with mindfulness along with permissible medication.
It is timely that mindfulness should be made a part of school/college syllabus to raise levels of consciousness in human beings on best to attain emotional control. No doubt serious mental illnesses need medication but many of the current psychological disturbances ie, anxiety, depression and its various manifestations can be prevented or mitigated by adopting mindful practices. Pills and potions can and should be used only in extreme cases while behavior modification through counseling and non-medical means can bring real lasting changes. Universities, business centers, and civil society, media can help promote mental health education by setting up counseling centers under qualified people.
In China and other East Asian countries emphasis is laid on breathing techniques which can help alleviate many psychosomatic illnesses. Unfortunately, this part of therapy is unrealized and little known in South Asia due to lack of awareness and inbuilt prejudices. Hence many suffer the mental agonies day in and day out.
Also, in the developing world where mental awareness and hygiene and treatment are woefully lacking mainstream medical practitioners do not seem enthusiastic about it and term it 'hogwash'. Many stigmas have to root out from our feudalistic and half-educated society.
Like physical strengthening of physical muscles, strengthening of mental muscles with spiritualism, physical and mental exercise and diet are important. These have now been scientifically recognized through empirical bases. If relaxed and balanced emotionally and rationally, human nature could become empathetic and compassionate and less egoistic, grasping and aggressive.
We need this at a time when impulsiveness, intolerance, hatred and violence pervade in societies and nuclear shadows lurk over the horizon. So, why not try mindfulness meditation with deep breathing in the NEW YEAR for a more contented and blissful life.